MONROE — Monroe Clinic announces the five doctors of the Monroe Clinic Family Medicine Residency and Emergency Medicine Fellow Class of 2019. A graduation reception to honor the doctors who completed the program was held on June 21 at the Edelweiss Chalet Country Club in New Glarus.

This year’s graduates include: Brittany Blomberg, doctor of osteopahty, a Family Medicine resident, who is pursuing a hospice and palliative care fellowship through UIC Rockford; Mark Patterson, DO, a Family Medicine resident, who is continuing with Monroe Clinic as a hospitalist; Benjamin Chao, DO, a Family Medicine resident, who is considering job opportunities in outpatient primary care within the region; Alexander Nutt, medical doctor and Emergency Medicine fellow, who is joining the team at St. Luke’s Hospital in rural Montana; and Joan “Abi” Ashcraft, MD, an Emergency Medicine fellow who is joining the team at St. Luke’s Hospital in rural Montana.

The Rural Family Medicine Residency program started in 2015 and is the first American Osteopathic Association accredited rural training track in the country. 

The program allows for ample teaching and hands-on experience without competition from other residents. The Emergency Medicine Fellowship program also began in 2015 and was developed for family physicians who desire further training in rural emergency medicine. 

These programs offer the best of both worlds by combining the resources of major teaching facilities with the appealing environment of a smaller, community-based hospital. A goal of the program is to equip and prepare any resident or any fellow to be successful in the changing healthcare market.